What fertilizer makes cabbage grow best?

The Beginning of Autumn is coming soon. From the beginning of autumn, the temperature will gradually drop from the scorching heat of midsummer and the weather will start to turn cooler. Although the daytime temperature remains high, people can feel a cool breeze at night. There is a farmer's proverb that says: "Plant cabbage in the Beginning of Autumn and pick new cotton in the End of Heat." The beginning of autumn is a good time to plant cabbage, and fertilizing is critical when planting cabbage. Let’s learn what fertilizer is best for cabbage to grow?

1. Reasonable application of nitrogen fertilizer is crucial to the growth of cabbage

Studies have shown that to produce 1,000 kilograms of fresh weight of cabbage, about 2 kilograms of pure nitrogen are needed from the soil. This nitrogen can come from soil, organic matter and chemical fertilizers. When applying a large amount of organic fertilizer, the use of chemical nitrogen fertilizer should be appropriately reduced. Appropriate application of nitrogen fertilizer helps photosynthesis and is a key factor in achieving high yield of Chinese cabbage. However, in some remote areas, the supply of nitrogen fertilizer may be insufficient, resulting in thin, light-colored, and rough cabbage leaves, which not only affects yield but also reduces quality. On the contrary, in most areas, the actual amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied often exceeds the needs of the plants. Excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer will cause the cabbage leaves to become thick and the core to be loose, reducing yield and quality. The water content of the leaves will increase, which is not conducive to storage and is prone to rot. It will also be susceptible to diseases and pests in the later stages of growth. Therefore, the use of nitrogen fertilizer should not only be appropriate, but the application period is also very critical.

The amount of nitrogen absorbed by cabbage varies throughout the growth cycle . The absorption amount is less in the seedling stage, accounting for about 2% of the total; the absorption amount increases in the rosette stage, accounting for about 28%; and the absorption amount is the largest in the heart stage, accounting for about 70%. Therefore, the application of nitrogen fertilizer should follow the principle of light at first and heavy later. The growth cycle of Chinese cabbage is relatively long, so fertilization management should ensure sufficient base fertilizer. In old vegetable fields with high soil fertility, it is sufficient to apply an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer, and the compound fertilizer should mainly be phosphorus and potassium. In new vegetable fields with low soil fertility, organic fertilizer should be applied as the priority, and triple compound fertilizer should be applied in combination. At the same time, attention should be paid to the mixed application of organic fertilizer and potassium fertilizer.

In terms of topdressing, the application of water and fertilizer (mainly nitrogen fertilizer) should be controlled from the seedling stage to the cluster stage. Except for special circumstances where it is necessary to apply seedling-raising fertilizer, seedlings should generally be squatted during the rosette stage to promote the growth of above-ground assimilation organs (outer leaves) and the in-depth development of the root system, laying the foundation for rapid growth and large-scale absorption of nutrients in the later stage. The first topdressing should be carried out during the critical period of the rosette stage, mainly with fast-acting nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, and combined with irrigation. After that, the cabbage will enter the heart-forming stage. The second topdressing should be carried out in the early and middle stages of heart formation, mainly applying nitrogen fertilizer, up to twice, and controlling the amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Stop applying nitrogen fertilizer in the late stage of heart formation.

2. Increasing the proportion of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers is beneficial to cabbage growth

Increasing the application of potassium fertilizer in base fertilizer and topdressing can help the cabbage to form a heart and improve its disease resistance. In the topdressing in the early stage of heart formation, attention should be paid to the application of potassium fertilizer. If the supply of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers is insufficient, cabbage will not easily form a head. Currently, the application of potassium fertilizer is often neglected in vegetable production. The appropriate amount of potassium to apply is generally 20 kg of Aojia nitrosulfur base. The best application method is to divide it into two parts: base fertilizer and top dressing. The base fertilizer is applied to the bottom of the hole when planting, and the top dressing is applied together with nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation after the rosette stage.

3. Paying attention to calcium supply is essential for cabbage growth

By applying high-phosphorus compound fertilizer in the base fertilizer and supplementing calcium nutrition, it helps prevent the occurrence of "dry heart" disease in Chinese cabbage. Chinese cabbage is a calcium-loving crop. Calcium deficiency or excessive nitrogen application can easily cause dry heartburn. Controlling the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and supplementing calcium nutrition are the core technologies for preventing Chinese cabbage dry heartburn. In addition to applying calcium-containing fertilizers to the soil, calcium supplementation can also be done by spraying 0.3-0.5% sugar alcohol calcium fertilizer on the leaves.

In short, it is crucial to apply fertilizer reasonably to grow cabbage well. It should not be applied too biasedly and it should also be combined with the specific growth conditions of the cabbage.